Events: 1970
The Insider applauded Northwestern National Bank for using John Denver’s music in their commercials, 1970 – 1971.
Pepper Fog at Coffman Union, January 13, 1970, 8:00
B.J. Thomas, Roy Orbison, and the Four Tops appeared at the Met Center on February 6, 1970.
What a gas to have this first hand account from Rollie Anderson!
Roy doesn’t show, BJ’s late and here’s three of the Four Tops
Tonight we went to the B J Thomas show at the Metropolitan Sports Center with Mitch & Marilyn and Norm. They drove. Besides the Four Tops, Roy Orbison was supposed to be there but he supposedly “hurt his back” and couldn’t make it. The advertising posters boasted a huge 3 ½ hour spectacular! Well, as it turned out, the show was scheduled to begin at 8 pm but we waited until 8:40 when disc jockey, Scott Burton, came out and gave us the bad news about Roy and then said B J Thomas missed his flight and was “on his way right now” and would be there about 9:30.
Despite the above headline, all of the Four Tops showed up and performed for 50 minutes and they were pretty good. However, they did not perform my favorite song of theirs, “It’s the Same Old Song.” After a 30 minute break, the backup group for B J, “The Arrangement,” came out to perform. Then when B J finally came out, he sang three songs before saying “I hope you didn’t mind waiting.” I couldn’t believe it when he finished singing in less than 25 minutes, walked off the stage and the lights came on and it was all over at 10:40.
So, the great 3½ hour spectacular, after subtracting all the delays was only 1 ½ hours long including the back up group’s appearance! After that farce, the five of us went to the Embers restaurant at highway 100 and 36th. We had a lot of fun there!
Tony Glover and Pepper Fog at Whole Coffee House, January 16, 1970
Andre Kostelanetz at Northrop Auditorium, January 18, 1970
Turtles at the Prison, January 24, 1970
Grand Funk Railroad, January 25, 1970
Cold Blood, a 9-piece jazz rock group from San Francisco, appeared at the New City Opera House on January 30-31, 1970.
The Butterfield Blues Band played Northup Auditorium on January 31, 1970.
Allman Brothers, Labor Temple, February 1, 1970
Tiny Tim, February 4, 1970
Bobby “Blue” Bland performed at the Cedar Village Theater, sponsored by the Walker Art Center, February 5, 1970.
Crow and Abraxis, February 6, 1970
Roy Orbison, B.J. Thomas, Met Sports Center, February 6, 1970
Savoy Brown, Labor Temple, February 8, 1970
Delaney, Bonnie and Friends with Eric Clapton performed at the Minneapolis Auditorium, February 12, 1970. A review said that the opening act was the John Koerner band, which included Willie Murphy. Tony Glover got up from the audience and played harmonica on one song, “Lucille,” for old times’ sake.
Bonnie, Delaney, & Clapton. Photo copyright Mike Barich
Sam and Dave, Guthrie, February 15, 1970
Byrds, Labor Temple, February 15, 1970
Sweetwater, Labor Temple, February 22, 1970
Mercy performed at Northup Auditorium on February 28, 1970.
Youngbloods, Labor Temple, March 1, 1970
Mark of Zorro appeared at the Prison on March 7, 1970. Local group?
Spirit and Zephyr appeared at the Magoo’s New City Opera House on March 8, 1970. The ad promised Nova Lights and a new stage.
Country Joe and the Fish at the Labor Temple, March 8, 1970
A source on the Internet says that the Allman Brothers Band played in St. Paul on March 1 and April 18, 1970.
Doug Kershaw was at the Cedar Village Theater on March 2, 1970. Bamboo opened.
Smokey Robinson had a concert (at least planned) for the Minneapolis Auditorium on March 10, 1970.
Iron Butterfly and Mason Proffit performed at the Minneapolis Auditorium on March 13, 1970. The Butterfly was panned in the Insider.
The Moody Blues had a concert (at least planned) for a concert at the Minneapolis Auditorium for March 15, 1970.
MET CENTER POP FESTIVAL
What was billed as the First Met Center Pop Festival was held at the Met Center with 12 bands on March 20, 1970. The 8-hour show started at 4 pm, and the ticket price was an astounding $5! Featured acts were:
- Canned Heat
- Grand Funk Railroad
- Buddy Miles Express
- The Amboy Dukes (Ted Nugent)
- The Litter
- Brownsville Station
- The Stooges (Iggy Pop)
- Johnny Winter, unexpectedly joined on stage by brother Edgar
- Rotary Connection (Minnie Ripperton was out sick)
- S.R.C.
- Truth – according to Wikipedia, this was an American Contemporary Christian group, active from 1971 to 2001. Formed by John Roger Breland, the ensemble’s name stands for “Trust, Receive, Unchangeable, True Happiness [in Jesus]”. It was initially composed of 15 members, eventually expanding to 22 members.
Originally scheduled acts the Who, Brian Auger and Trinity, and Conqueror Worm did not make the show. Although it was much advertised that a special sound system was being brought in by Tomorrow, Incorporated from Chicago “for undistorted sound,” apparently the acoustics were terrible. The show was a joint venture of Gary Jorgensen of the New City Opera House and Ray Heim of the Met Center.
Photos of Grand Funk Railroad and Iggy Pop copyright Mike Barich, St. Paul
Vanilla Fudge reportedly bombed.
The photo below shows Canned Heat’s Fito de la Parra, Bob Hite, and Alan Wilson (behind Hite).
Canned Heat photo by Denny Schwartz courtesy Gary Schwartz
Below is a photo of Canned Heat’s Alan Wilson from that show. He wrote and sang their hit song “Going Up The Country.” He died half a year later.
Photo of Alan Wilson by Denny Schwartz, courtesy Gary Schwartz
Ramsey Lewis, Northrop Auditorium, March 22, 1970
March 22, 1970: Johnny Winter was at the Labor Temple
March 22, 1970: The Band was at the Guthrie. What a choice!
Fever Tree and Mojo Buford, Labor Temple, March 29, 1970
In an interesting ad in the April 1970 Insider, we find: “Records from this market have long been criticized for their ‘Minneapolis-sound.’ Sound 80 has definitely broken through that barrier and brings a refreshing change to recording in this market. When you release a record remember it has to compete for air play with the best.. Prior to deciding where you want to record make certain you consider Sound 80 ‘Cuz It’s A Gas!'” Not many years later Minneapolis would be proud of its “Sound.”
Howlin’ Wolf was at the Cedar Village Theater on April 2, 1970.
Glenn Yarbrough appeared on April 4, 1970, at Melby Hall, Augsburg College.
Paul Butterfield was at the Depot on April 11, 1970.
Led Zeppelin played the Met Center on April 12, 1970 – sponsored by New City Opera House.
Miscellaneous memories from Facebook:
- It was very foggy.
- Tripleheader with Twins in AM, North Star playoff in afternoon and a late start for Zeppelin
- Jimmy Page had a broken finger. Didn’t hear any difference….
- Large and spirited crowd
- Was that the show that they were very late to arrive, pulled the limo up next to the stage when they arrived? Plant was so loaded he needed a chair to keep him standing up!
- “I think this is the Zep show we walked out of into a freezing sideways rain….They were preety bad…”
Ad from the Insider, April 11, 1970
Dania Hall historian David Markle speculates that the last event in the large hall took place in April 1970:
According to Glen Hanson, members of the Jokers Wild band registered surprise on looking out over the “abnormal” crowd that had arrived. The hall had been hired for an event for students following a [pop artist] Robert Rauschenberg opening at Dayton’s Gallery 12. Apparently Rauschenberg enjoyed the party.
Poco, April 17 – 18, 1970
Small Faces with Rod Stewart, Alice Cooper, Labor Temple, April 19, 1970
NORMAN GREENBAUM
A barely-known Norman Greenbaum appeared at the Prison to a small crowd on April 25, 1970. On June 1, 1970, Greenbaum would appear on the national TV show “Something Else,” aired at 6:30 here and hosted by John Byner. His self-penned “Spirit in the Sky” was released in late 1969. The single became a gold record, selling two million copies from 1969 to 1970, and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (April 18, 1970), where it lasted for 15 weeks in the Top 100. Billboard ranked the song Number 22 song of 1970. Despite the line “I got a friend in Jesus,” Greenbaum was raised and remained an observant Jew. He wrote it in 15 minutes! (Wikipedia)
The Hollies appeared at the Prison on April 26, 1970.
Ferante and Teicher, Northrop Auditorium, April 26, 1970
Blood, Sweat & Tears drew 8,000 to the Minneapolis Auditorium on April 28, 1970. Bob Mikkelson remembered that John Denver opened and no one cared. When Denver said it was his last number the place cheered. Denver just replied that he was as excited as the rest of us to hear BS&T.
Ad from the Insider, April 11, 1970
“A Band Called Smith” (later known as just Smith) appeared at the outdoor O’Shaughnessy Stadium at the College of St. Catherine’s on May 2, 1970. Also on the bill were Kathy Jones, the C.A. Quintet, and the Mystics.
JIMI HENDRIX
Jimi Hendrix played the St. Paul Civic Center on May 3, 1970, his second appearance in the Twin Cities. The concert (the “Cry of Love” tour) was taped by a member of the audience; read about it here. Tom Pinkert’s dentist sort of remembers that Jimi may have been airlifted into the venue. Opening acts were Oz and Savage Grace, a band from Detroit. Although Jimi was at the top of his fame (he would die that September), someone managed to spell his name wrong in the ad in the Insider, below. Excerpts of the concert are posted to YouTube. He was backed by the Band of Gypsies with Billy Cox and Buddy Miles.
Image from Insider Magazine
Memories from the concert:
Jimi took the stage and said to the audience, “If you got seats, take ’em. If you got joints, pass ’em.”
There seems to be some disagreement as to whether Mitch Mitchell or Buddy Cox was playing drums.
Started tuning his guitar, Jimi said “Only cowboys stay in tune” and ripped into “Fire!”
John Gary, Minneapolis Auditorium, May 3, 1970
The Ramsey Lewis Trio appeared at the Depot on May 5, 1970.
Big Mama Thornton appeared at the Walker (or Coffman Union?) on May 6, 1960.
Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger appeared at the Cedar Village Theater on May 6, 1970.
The Friends of Distinction and Young/Holt Unlimited appeared at the Minneapolis Armory.
Chicago Transit Authority’s first performance in Minneapolis was on May 10, 1970, at the Minneapolis Auditorium. Illinois Speed Press was also on the bill.
Tom Pinkert: “For some reason during a lunar eclipse I chanced upon Mance Lipscomb playing an outdoor concert somewhere on the west bank campus, must have been summer of 1970.” Cool!
Van Cliburn appeared at Northrop Auditorium on May 15, 1970.
Mitch Ryder appeared at the Depot on May 17, 1970.
Fever Tree, May 17, 1970
Gordon Lightfoot appeared at the Guthrie on May 17, 1970
Byrds concert at Minneapolis Auditorium, May 18.
The Byrds and the Peppermint Rainbow appeared at the Minneapolis Auditorium on May 18, 1970. The KDWB hit list told how you could win the Byrds to play at a dance at your high school! Did that happen?
May 19, 1970: Cedar Village Theater
- Midwest
- Thundertree
- 19th Amendment
Peter, Paul and Mary played the Minneapolis Auditorium on May 22, 1970.
The Kinks appeared at the Depot on May 22 and 23, 1970.
The 1970 Connie Awards took place on June 1, 1970.
Neil Diamond performed at the Minneapolis Auditorium on June 13, 1970. KDWB issued a flier “saluting” the performance.
Traffic was scheduled at the “Auditorium” for June 21, 1970, as advertised on a KDWB music survey. Jef Cierniak says,
I was at this one. I believe that Country Joe and The Fish were the opener. Towards the end of the Traffic set, the officials began to close the curtains, but many audience members hopped on the stage and pulled it back open. Traffic played another song with people sitting around them on stage.
BOTTLENECK I
On June 18, 1970, a free festival was held in Loring Park, co-sponsored by the Center Arts Council (CAC) of the Walker Art Center. It was described as an “improvisational summer festival” centered around the Loring Park Bandstand, starting at 1:00 pm. The bands Cottonwood, Cisco Grove, and Soul Package volunteered their time and talent to entertain.
Soul Package at Bottleneck I – photo copyright Mike Barich
Onstage above are Dewayne T. Lewis on bass; Mark Aletky on drums; Rudy Martin, vocals, Mark Menke, guitar; Eric Aletky, Trombone, Mark Bratten on sax
The festival included “theater happenings and improvisational performances” by:
- The Theatre of Communities, which was a co-sponsor of the event, headed by Gary Parker,
- The Minneapolis Ensemble Theatre,
- The Afro-American Dance Troupe,
- The Kata Novak Festival Dancers, and
- Dudley Riggs’ Brave New Workshop
The event was organized by 20-year-old Bruce Margolis, described as a U of M Theater Department dropout, Guthrie Theater employee, and a member of the CAC. It was an idea to get new members for the CAC other than a party that would cost a lot and that people wouldn’t come to. It was hoped that the Festival would be spontaneous, with “theater games, audience participation, and a very loose, everyone-get-involved kind of spirit.” Other ideas were inflatable plastics and sculptural events with artist Ron Brodigan making art out of 25 bales of hay. “Margolis said everyone is encouraged to bring their families, friends, costumes, musical instruments, balloons, kits, whatever, and do it.” (Minneapolis Tribune, June 21, 1970)
Here’s a local record spotted by the ever-vigilant Jeff Lonto. Notable is the IDS Tower under construction in the background.
Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee appeared at the Cedar Village Theater on June 30, 1970, sponsored by the Walker Arts Center.
The Who, Minneapolis Auditorium, on July 3, 1970. There was a 90-minute equipment delay, and the band played selections from “Tommy,” which by then was a little worn out. The Mystics opened.
July 8 – 12, 1970: Local hero band Crow played at the famed Whisky A-Go-Go in Los Angeles. The other band listed was Crucible.
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young performed at the Met Sports Center on July 9, 1970. This show was rescheduled from a show that was boycotted because of high ticket prices.
Three Dog Night, July 12, 1970, Minneapolis Auditorium, as advertised in a KDWB music survey.
Tom Jones, Met Center, July 19, 1970.
The U of M held a series of blues concerts on the Anderson Hall Mall. Mississippi Fred McDowell performed to an audience of 1,200 on July 22, 1970.
Arlo Guthrie and Linda Ronstadt appeared at the Minneapolis Auditorium on July 26, 1970.
Gary Isensee(?) from Hundred Flowers wrote that Arlo opened his set with a musical answer to “Okie from Muskogee,” and finished with a monologue about dope and uppers. Gary found it half funny, half interesting, and often overdone. He did a rock version of Woodie Guthrie’s “I Ain’t Got no Home in This World Anymore,” and a fast version of “Alice’s Restaurant.”
Reviewer Gary was disappointed that the audience in the third full auditorium was not appreciating Linda Ronstadt’s opening set as they should. Her songs included “I’ll be Your Baby Tonight,” “Silver Threads and Golden Needles,” and “Lovesick Blues.” (July 31, 1970)
Pacific Gas & Electric appeared at the Depot on July 26, 1970.
KDWB brought Bobby Sherman to the Minneapolis Auditorium on July 31 , 1970. Scream!!!!
August 9th, 1970, was KDWB/63’s 6th Annual Drag Festival.
Steppenwolf, August 9, 1970, Minneapolis Auditorium. Tickets were $4. The Underbeats were scheduled to open but were replaced by Gypsy. Wait a minute – the Underbeats WERE Gypsy!
Buck Owens appeared at the Minneapolis Auditorium on August 14, 1970.
The Rascals, with the Litter and Kiwani, played the Minneapolis Auditorium on August 16, 1970.
Exuma did his act at the Depot on August 16, 1970.
The Judd Group formed in Rochester in 1970.
Bamboo and John Koerner appeared at the Guthrie on August 23, 1970.
The Lemon Pipers came to St. Paul on August 31, 1970
Leon Russell performed at the Guthrie on September 6, 1970
Jimmy McGriff appeared at Georgia Brown’s on September 16, 1970.
? Cassidy appeared at the Cedar Village Theater on September 17, 1970.
Youngbloods appeared at the Guthrie on September 20, 1970
Gypsy appeared at the Labor Temple on September 20, 1970.
Freda Payne, Al Jarreau, Sorry Muthas, September 26, 1970
Johnny Winter, Labor Temple, September 27, 1970
Al Jarreau, Depot, September 27, 1970
Sha Na Na, Labor Temple, October 4, 1970
Mason Profitt, Depot, October, 1970
The Lettermen appeared at the Minneapolis Auditorium on October 10, 1970.
In the fall of 1968 Jim Johnson got back from Viet Nam, rejoined the Underbeats, and they made their way west to Los Angeles. They were soon playing regularly at clubs on the Sunset Strip and changed their name to Gypsy. Their eponymous debut album, only the second double album of the era, hit the charts on October 10, 1970, stayed there for 20 weeks, and peaked at No. 44. The single “Gypsy Queen – Part 1” entered the charts on December 5, 1970, peaking at No. 62.
Poco, Depot, October 11, 1970
Ramsey Lewis at the Depot, October 13, 1970
John Mayall, with the bands Flock and Ned, appeared at the Minneapolis Auditorium on October 16, 1970.
Badfinger appeared at St. Thomas on October 16, 1970
The Grateful Dead appeared at the Guthrie on October 18, 1970.
The Fifth Dimension appeared at the Minneapolis Auditorium on October 25, 1970 (sponsored by KDWB).
MC 5 appeared at the Depot on October 25, 1970 (Mothers of Invention?)
Mountain appeared at the Minneapolis Auditorium on November 1, 1970 (sponsored by KDWB). Don Ellis also on the bill.
Don Ellis at the Depot, November 3, 1970
Cannonball Adderly at the Prom, November 4, 1970
Rod Stewart and the Small Faces, November 8, 1970
Iron Butterfly and Crow, Met Center, November 13, 1970.
Ad from Hundred Flowers courtesy Wayne Klayman
The poster, as advertised on eBay
Ten Wheel Drive at Northrop, November 14, 1970
John Sebastian at the Guthrie, November 15, 1970
Wayne Cochran at the Depot, November 17-18, 1970
The New Christy Minstrels appeared with the Minnesota Orchestra at Northrop Auditorium on November 22, 1970.
Grand Funk Railroad with Humble Pie (featuring Peter Frampton) at Met Sports Center, November 22, 1970
Sweetwater at Depot, November 22, 1970
Elton John at the Guthrie, November 29, 1970
Exuma at the Depot, November 29, 1970
Buffy Ste. Marie appeared with the Minnesota Orchestra at Northrop Auditorium on December 6, 1970.
James Gang at Depot, December 6, 1970
In an article in the Minneapolis Tribune dated November 27, 1972, journalist Terry Farrell noted that a change had come about two years before in terms of black patrons of clubs. A.B. Cassius, a bar owner for 36 years, said “For years it was just a policy: No Negroes served on Hennepin Ave.” A dramatic transformation took place in 1970 “particularly on Hennepin Ave., between 6th and 9th Streets. Significant numbers of black people began frequenting those establishments, which previously – by design or informal social custom – had been patronized almost exclusively by white people.”
Leo Kottke at the Guthrie, December 26, 1970
By the end of 1970, the Purple Barn was the only teen club left, and it was only open on Fridays. Club owners blamed the schools, who had changed their policies to allow non-students to attend their dances.